VIRIKA SS: Band Baaja Baaraat... ch. 9 on pg. 30 - Page 7

m - "EVERYONE LISTEN UP" yelled Manvi trying to get everyones attention.

Everyone started looking at Manvi who was standing at the front of the door all ready and excited. Everyone knew the time was here, the time for the engagement to begin and the fun to unravel. There was not one person who wasn't excited. Everyones smiling and glowing faces were looking at Manvi's knowing some sort of direction was to come now.

m - "Jiju has officially entered the hotel and now its time for us to all get to the hall! Remember all of us will be walking di till she reaches the stage and then after the the official engagement, we will line up at the side of the stage and begin our performances" she said yelling so everyone in the room could hear now.

Everyone was giggling and excited more than ever, except for Jeevika who looked almost like a nervous wreck. Everyone started coming outside the room one by one and Manvi went to the back just looking at Jeevika.

m - "Di, you're okay na?"

j - "Manvi I'm really nervous right now. Do I look okay?"

m - "Was that ten minute applaud not good enough when you stepped outside the bathroom?"

j - "You guys are the closest to me so obviously you will be nice and say I look fine, but tell me... do I look fine enough for your jiju? I mean, I look okay na?"

m - "Di you've never looked more gorgeous, and mark my words every day this week as each function goes by you will look the best out there! Now please we have to get downstairs, bhai is calling me for like ten minutes now telling us to come"

j - "Okay okay"

Jeevika took a second to close her eyes and take a deep breath. It was only the two of them left in the room and then Manvi held her di's hand and walked her outside. Manvi closed the door behind her, looking forward to the evening now. Jeevika walked and and all her friends, cousins, and most importantly Manvi walked behind her. A group of a little over 20 people were entering the huge elevator at the Hyatt Hotel and all seemed to be excited. Some girls were excited to go see their boyfriends now, while others were excited to start getting drunk. Manvi of course was the most excited to see her di and jiju together, OFFICIALLY!

As soon as the large group came out of the elevator on the ground floor, the huge gang saw a group of 7 guys dressed all pretty similarly. All of Jeevika's cousin-brothers were waiting. They had the elaborate chadar' embellished with beautiful white flowers that were complimenting Jeevika's fair skin. The brothers gathered around Jeevika coming more in the front and spreading the chadar over her head protecting her. The girls just gathered up closely behind the brothers. They all seemed like one giant army, Jeevika's personal protectors [:p]. They waited patiently till some adult gave them a cue and told them to enter the hall. Jeevika was making these hand gestures trying to alleviate the pressure from within. She kept making these fists, but then let go once she realized her love was just a few steps away. She couldn't wait to get a glance of her Prince Charming, and that too in the stylish sherwani she had designed for him! Of course she would design his clothes, her clothes, and everyone in their families. This wedding just wasn't a union and a time of celebration for Viren and Jeevika, but also the two families who deserved to look their best.

Jeevika's masi walked out the hall, telling two people to officially open the closed doors for the bride and her beautifully decked army! Two dhol players headed right behind her masi and both took their places on each side of Jeevika, about to welcome her in the most grand way possible. Jeevika quickly turned around to find Manvi, and gave her the look. The look that she needed her sister, and she immediately came to her di's rescue coming right behind Jeevika. She stood right behind her making sure she would have enough room to walk and also that no one would step on her di's elaborate lengha.

Step by step they finally reached the two large doors and finally entered the hall. Jeevika couldn't even count how many people there were, it was far beyond what she had even expected. But through that crowd she just wanted to find her man, her soulmate, her Viren! But she couldn't see him. There were people complimenting her as she walked in, and the dhol players beating the instrument louder than ever. Desi uncles were looking drunk before the event had even started, and her in-laws were trying to huddle up not realizing that all she wanted to do right now was to catch a glimpse of him. How hard is it for a bride just to see her fiance? The photographers that were arranged from both sides of the family were flashing Jeevika with so much light making it even more difficult to find him. Slowly the the huge gang reached the stage, which was quite high. There was a hand, who Jeevika couldn't see of. But as soon as her hand fell comfortably on his and the two pressed their palms against each others, she knew it was him. There was a huge smile that automatically appeared on her face now as he helped her walk the few steps up the stage. She could finally see his face, and most evidently his smile. He was looking straight into her grey eyes, the feature he had most adorned. He always told her that when they would have kids one day, they HAD to have gotten her eyes, and her smile. Those two things is what made him fall in love with her the first instant. With the family members telling them to settle down on their elaborate wedding chairs, they sat down finally and were able to get a better view of the audience. Viren looked at Jeevika and got closer to her ear while the family started preparing for the ceremony.

v - "You look exactly the way I had been envisioning you all this week" he said getting her to blush.

Jeevika just looked at Viren until someone came behind her. She felt Maya hugging her from the back and just smiled at her. That instant she looked out for Manvi who was standing down below the stage just looking at Maya hugging her di. She knew Manvi was controlling herself and trying to be as happy as she could. Jeevika looked at Viren and then they both looked at Manvi. Viren got up from his seat and went to call his saali to be right next to her di and jiju. She happily took his help to reach the top of the stage and stand next to the happy couple. Within minutes Jeevika and Viren's moms both stood next to their kids holding the engagement rings for their respective partners. The look of the two of their faces seemed that they had been dying for this moment. Jeevika took the ring first from her mom and put it on Viren's hand slowly looking up at him as soon as it was on. Viren did the same, except right after putting the ring on he kissed her hand beautifully. The whole audience, who some were witnessing the engagement close up while others on the two large screens, could not refrain from "awwing" that moment. Jeevika knew Viren loved her a lot, but didn't think he had the guts to actually make a bold move in front of hundreds of people. The two sides of the family were handing sweets to the bride and groom to feed each other and make their engagement official sweetly! Right after the ceremony, Viren's mother with his two grandmothers came close to Jeevika. Slowly, one by one, each were gifting and placing the expensive sets to Jeevika. Within fifteen minutes, she had more than three large jewellry sets on her neck. The photographers didn't fail to capture how stunningly beautiful Jeevika was looking at the moment. Jeevika was taken to the nearby bathroom to help her remove everything while the rest of the family members cleared the stage to get ready for the party to start! Jeevika looked at herself once in the mirror and smiled. She left the bathroom and saw a few family members waiting outside for her. They all directed her inside to the hall again where she and Viren were made to sit in the audience getting ready for all the hardwork of Jeevika's side of the family to pay off!

Hey Everyone! This story is going to take much longer than I thought 😆 This update is the last time I'll be sending PMs to everyone. From here on out, only those who comment regularly will receive a PM! Honestly don't mind writing, but its very annoying to inform over a 100 people and only get 26 likes and three pages of comments on yesterdays new update of BIL. Can't wait to write more now since I have finally have summer vacation 😊 Next Update after 35 likes!!!